St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-22

tons In 1850 to over a million tons in
1880, potatoes slightly decreased, while
the value of live stock has also largely
increased. While Vermont's growth
of wool has greatly decreased, her pro
ductiOn of butter has more than dou-
bled reaching 25 million pounds in 1880.
Cheese has decreased from nine million
pounds in so to a million and a half in
| 1880. These facts were noted as sig
nificant of the direction agriculture is
taking.
But, the speaker said, Vermont is
distinguished as much for the zeal of
her leading citizens in placing the ag-
ricultural intelligence of the country
on high plane as for her practical
work. DIR. Loring gave Senator Nor
rill credit for his full share in this
work, to whom, he said, the country is
indebted for the establishment of in
dustrial colleges in every state.
Then followed stirring sketch of
the farm rulers and statesmen of the
early days of our national history, in
Guiding reference to the effects pro-
duced by the war upon the markets
and the farmers of the country and the
increasing value today of an export
trade. In considering the growth of
farming another array of statistics was
presented and causes of past successes
discussed and the benefits accruing
from the governmental principles laid
down by our fOrefathers. Under this
head there was much to be said in hon
or of the Chords of the soil" the sturdy
farmers of New England and the rise
and progress of the grand "American
system" of dividing the land into small
parcels and every man owning his
home, and with this system, which
English refOrmers have advocated and
promised the English people, are in
cluded the rights and privileges of
American citizenship that are never
to be lost sight of.
The agricultural law which governs
the management of our farms is the
home and if possible a neighbOring
market. For the smaller farms the in
dustrial centres furnish market for
all local crops, and encourage careful
and systematic farming. DR.. Loring
thinks that as our pOulation increases
and manufacturing industries extend,
the latter system of agriculture with
all its profit, and its independence of
long and expensive transportation will
prevail. The markets of our own peo-
pie, he thinks, possess great advan-
tages over foreign markets and lie at
the foundation of our agricultural pros
perity. The vast Importance was en-
phasized of developing our domestic
industries of every description and
uniting them all in a cluster of enter
prises supported by American capital,
| developed by American labor, and Or
gained on the laws of American state
and society with our civil rights and
their social equality. The speaker
congratulated his audience on the in
creased interest in agriculture now
everywhere manifested. The existing
spirit of inquiry is full of promise. The
desire to prove theory has given
place to determination to ascertain
laws and to investigate the practices
which will afford the largest profit to
| the farmers. Agricultural science now
means not abstract theories, but prac-
tical results.
In conclusion DR. Loring appealed to
the farmers to exercise economy, skill
and devotion in the management of
their business, and open mindedness
in their Investigations, assuring them
that no industry promised the same
degree of substantial success as the
farming industry.